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Senator Larissa Waters reveals she has chronic kidney disease, highlighting a common condition that affects millions of Australians, with many unaware they have it until it's too late for treatment.
Australians with signs of kidney disease are at serious risk of life-threatening complications. Senator Larissa Waters has revealed she has been quietly managing chronic kidney disease.
Chronic Kidney Disease Risks and Causes
According to experts, only 7.4 per cent of Australian adults self-report having chronic kidney disease, but about 14 per cent show biomedical signs of the condition. The disease can be asymptomatic, and many people do not realise they have it until it is too late for treatment. The kidneys filter blood and remove waste products. People do not need their kidneys to work at 100 per cent.
Chronic kidney disease occurs when kidney function declines to a level that cannot keep up with the body. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease in Australia, accounting for about 36 per cent of new cases. Other causes include high blood pressure, immune diseases, congenital conditions and genetic disorders. For a small portion of people with chronic kidney disease who suffer kidney failure, the only treatments are dialysis or organ replacement.
Studies show that the quality of life of people with kidney failure is worse than living with some cancers, and in some cases, the condition cannot be treated. The treatment for kidney failure is life preservation, and dialysis requires being attached to a machine three times a week for up to five hours a day, described as "pretty brutal" by experts.
Kidney Failure Warning Signs and Prevention
Kidney failure is often found through a blood and urine test at a point when kidney function cannot be returned to what it was. Symptoms of poor kidney function include tiredness, malaise and itching. According to experts, about 50 per cent of people living with kidney disease die prematurely of a heart attack or stroke. A staggering 2.5 million Australians with signs of kidney disease have no idea they have it, putting them at serious risk of life-threatening complications.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience disproportionate levels of kidney disease, being twice as likely to develop kidney disease and four times as likely to die from it compared to the general population. Preventing kidney disease involves minimising risk by living a healthy lifestyle. Experts recommend old-fashioned habits such as not smoking, eating well, being physically active, stopping diabetes and managing diabetes and blood pressure appropriately.
Some risks cannot be avoided, such as ageing and being born with a genetic disorder. New diabetes drugs have been helpful in preventing kidney complications in some people with diabetes. Specific medications are available for specific kidney conditions, but experts say behavioural and biomedical risk factors are the major issues from a population perspective.
Early Detection Saves Kidney Health
Every Australian is urged to take kidney health seriously, with early detection being key to preventing kidney failure and the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant. Early detection is critical, as symptoms of poor kidney function can be general, such as tiredness, malaise and itching. Often, people do not realise they have kidney disease until it is too late for treatment.
Experts warn that chronic kidney disease is a silent killer, and many Australians are at serious risk of life-threatening complications. Taking kidney health seriously can save a life, and every Australian should get a simple kidney health check to assess their risk. Late detection and kidney disease can result in serious complications. Kidney health cannot be overlooked.
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brisbanetimes:The ‘unheralded’ organ: Why kidney disease is so difficult to detect 
theage:The ‘unheralded’ organ: Why kidney disease is so difficult to detectThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Larissa Waters Kidney Health Australia Diabetes Early Detection Kidney Disease Kidney Health Kidney Failure Dialysis
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